Slotting machine



Much 2 ,1926.

`F. c, H. MULLER sLo'Ig'rING uAcnmp:

\ 4 Shts-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1921 INVENTUR Irl-[1-1- Much 2 1926.- 1,574,995

F. c. H.4MU|.LER

SLOTTING IIACHINE Filed NO v. 25', 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 t INVE TUR fm f/ Much z ,1926. 1,574,995

F. C. H. MLLER SLOTTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTUR March 2 1926. 1,574,995

' F. c. H. MULLER sLoTTING MACHNE Filed Nov 25, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TIL-E1-' E- 7/ 73 INVENTUF in connection with the device.

Patented Mar. 2, 1925.

` UNITED sTAres PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND C. H. MLLER, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO MYER PRUSSIAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SLOTTING MACHINE.

Application filed November 25, 1921. Serial No. 517,480.

make and use the same, reference being .had

to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon,v

which form a part of this speciiication.

My invention has for its object to provide a slotting die and means coacting with 'the die to permitr successive operations of the die. In. connection with my invention I provide means for attaching the die and itsA associated parts to a press of any suitable form. The invention particularly has for its object to provide a means tor eiiiciently slottingr or castellating nuts andr to this end I provide a floating` die which will readily adjust itself to variations commonly existing in connection with nut blanks, and also means for eject-ingry the slugs formed in formingV the slots of the nuts and 'tor removing.;l the nuts. I also provide automatic means for movingv the nut into different positions inorder that the sequential operations may be performed upon it.

The invention may be contained in mfrchines and devices of different formsT and for different purposes. To illustrate a practical application of structures containing' my linvention I have selected one of such structures as an example of such structures, and shall describe it hereinafter. The structure selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings..

Figure l of the drawings illustrates a front viewv of the device containing my nvention and a front View of the ram of the press to which the device is connected. Fi 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the de vice illustrated in Fig. l. Slis a rear view of the device and of the ram, a supportingr bracket being shown removed in order that certain parts may be illustrated. Fig. 4 illustrates a supporting bracket used Fig. 5 is a. top view of the device.

1, in Figs.` 1, V2 and 3, is the ram ot any suitable plunger press and which is connected to the drivingmechanism in any suitable way, movement of the ram being caused by a trip of any well known character, A punch 2 is connected in any suitable way to the ram l, as by the clamping' plate 3 and the clamping screws Ll. The punch 2 may extend above the plate and be secured in the adjustable sleeve The punch 2 has preferably an inclined, slightly curved punching surface and cuttingedge 6. The inclination o'f the edge and the surface is downward from the back edge or side of the punch so that the blank is struck lirst nearv the center or axis of the punch and is sheared between the die and the punch. The radius and the inclination of the curved surface and the edges of the punching area causes the blanks to be pushed into position when the punch strikes the edges ot the blanks as will appear hereinafter. The punch 2 coacts vwith the die 'T which is supported on the bed of the press. It is supported within a die housingh 8 that is connected in any suitable way tothe bed. rilie die 7 has a stem of considerable length, one end of which is secured in the bracket 9 by means of the bolt l() that extends through the upper end oit the bracket and is provided with a dowel pin at its lower end which enters a hole in the end of the stem of the die. `he end of the stem of the die may be provided with a bushing` ll which forms a bearingl bushing between the end of the stem of the die and the bracket. The stem extends through an opening 'i2 located in a spindle 13 that is supported in the housing 8. A. considerable clearance exists between the surface ot the opening` l2 and the die and its stem to allow a slight movement of the die. The die will nevertheless be maintained coaxial with the opening 12 when released from the pressure of the punch.

The die 7 is ot a size that will readily enter the cylindrical opening; of the articles to be operated upon, such as the holes of the nuts to be castellated or slotted. The end of the die is provided with a slot 14@ into which the end or a portion of the end of the punch 2 enters. The upper edge oi the slot 14 forms a shearing' edge that coacts with the shearing,T edge of the punch 2 and thus a cut or slot may be produced at one point and on one side of the nut or other article when the punch penetrates into the die.

The die and the stem are provided with the hole 15 that extends longitudinally through the die and the stem; An ejector rod 16 is located in the hole 15 and terminates in proximity to the slot 111. The rear end or" the rod 16 is connected to the lever 17 by mea-ns of the block 18 and the pins or stubs 19. The stubs are located in the slot 2O formed at the end o't the lever 17 so as to permit angular movement ot the lever and yet cause longitudinal movem nt otl the rod 16. The lever 17 is given short angular movements and so as to cause the end of the rod 16 to pass through or beneath the slot 1l by means ot the cam plate or bracket 21 that is secured to the ram 1. rlhe lever 17 is provided with ar roller 22 which is located in an angular slot 23 termed in the cam plate 21 and each time the ram descends the rod 16 is pushed into anddrawn out from under the slot 1'l. This also occurs each time the ram is raised. The slugs that are severed from the nut or other article by the operation of the punch2` ordinarily gather in succession in the slot la and are pushed down in subsequent operations of the punch into lthe hole 15 in front ot' the rod 16. However, to insure that the lowermost slug is removed from the die and thus insure clearance or room tor operation oti the punch the rod 16 is operated upon during each of the movements` of the ram.

The spindle 13 is rotatively supported in the housing 8v A bushing 2a' may be located intermediate the spindle 13 and the housing 8 for bearing purposes. The spindle 13 is provided with a holder 25 which forms a basket or pocket for receiving the articles to be operated upon by the punch and the die. Then Ithe device is used for castellating nuts the interior of the pocket 25 has a shape substantially that of the exterior ot' the nut, that is7 when the nut to be slotted is a hex it has a hexagonal shaped recess. Then the nut is a square the recess of the holder is square. The holder 25 is secured in the spindle 13 by means of the screws 26 and by dowel pins 27. The holder 25 lits over the end of the die 7 and is provided with an opening substantially the same size as the opening 12 and to afford the same clearance between the stem ot' the die and the holder that is formed between the stem of the die and the spindle 13.

The blanks are inserted over the die 7 and into the recess 28 of the holder 25. Then the punch 2 is depressed so as to coact with the die 7 to shear the object, the object is supported by the lower side of the helder 25 which is supported by the spindle 13 and the pressure is transmitted directly through the bushing 24e to the housing` 8. Also the die 7 by reason of its long stem is permitted t0 rest on the lower side of the hole in the object and thus a solid support is provided tor the die 7 during the shearing operatie-l. The elasticity of the stem causes its return to its coaxial position when the punch is raised. This forms a floating die that readily permits insertion o'f the blanks in position and yet gives a so id foundation for the die during the shearing` operation.

The holder 25 is provided with a plurality ot slots 29 and the bushing` 2a is provided with a slot 3() through which the punch 2 may pass to enter the slot 11 of the die 7. The slots 29 are caused to register with the slot 30 and be placed in alignment with the slot 14 in succession by step by step movements of the spindle 13.

The spindle l?) is rotated by the operation of the pawl 31 that operates upon the ratchet 32 which is keyed to the spindle 123 by the key 33 and also secured by the lock nut 76. The ratchet is located in the housing '31 that is freely rotatable about the sleeve 13. The housing 34 is supported on shoulders ot' the ratchet 32 and is closed by means of the. cover 35 whereby the ratchet is enclosed within the housing dal except ttor the opening 36 formed in the sides ot' the housing through which the spring 37 eX- tends to press the pawl 31 against the ratchet 82. The pawl is pivotally connected to the housing 34 by the pivotvpin 38 and moves therewith when rotated about the axis of the spindle 13 and with the housing 34.- rlhe housing Bel is rotatively moved on the ratchet 32 by means ot the link 39 which is connected to the ram 1 by the screw 4() and to the housing 31 by the stud 41. When. therefore, the ram descends the paw, 31 is move-d with the housing 31 and is held against the ratchet 32 by the spring 37. (2)11 the return movement oit the ram 1 the pawl catches the ratchet 32 and nieves the spindle 13 one step forward so as to bring the slots 29 sequentially in aligmnent with the slot 30 and the slot 14, whereby portions of the nut placed in the holder will be placed in proper position to be acted upon by the punch 2 and the die 7. It the object to be punched is a hexagonal nut the ratchet will Vbe provided with six teeth on its: circumference to cause the proper placement ol the hoder and consequently of the nut.

lVhen the punch 2 and the die 7 are operated the object is securely held in position by means of a spring-pressed lock 12 that engages in slots formed in the periphery otl the index plate 43 and which is automatically unlocked by the operation ot the ram 1 during the shitting of the article to its subsequent position. The housing 3&1 is provided with a projecting cam 44 and the lock 42, which is slidably supported in gibs 45 and is spring pressed by the springs 50. is provided with a latch a6 having the roller 47. The latch 46 is pivotally supported in a recess formed in the locking bar 42 which thus provides a limiting stop 48 formed integral with the 'bar 42. The latch 46 is yieldingiy pressed against the stop 48 by means of the spring 49. Them therefore, the cam 44 is given oscillatory movements by the operation of the ram 1 it strikes the roller 47 `when moving in one direction so as to raise the latch 46 .and permit the cam 44 to lpass the roller without causing the spindle 13 which is keyed to the index plate to become unlocked, but when the cam 44 is swung downward, that is7 when the ram 1 is rai-sed, the cam 44 will operate upon the roller 47 to push the lock 42 away from the index plate .and thus unlock the spindle 13 and permit the pawl 31' to rotate the spindle 13 a part of the angular movement pro duced in the pawl 3l by the operation of the link 39v and the ram 1. llVhen, therefore,r

the ram 12 descends it carries thepawl 31 well -below the succeeding Vtoot-h of the ratchet 32 while the spindle is being held by the lock 42 and on its return movement the spindle is rotated 60o when the object l ted'u'pon is a hex nut.

When the required number of step byv step movements have been performed in the spindle 13 so as t-o permit the required num ber `of operations upon the object, the object may be automatically ejected by means of the ejecting rods 51 that are located in holes formed in the spindle 13. The rods 51 are connected to a collar 52. The collar is pressed against the bracket 9 by means of the springs. The rods 51 and the collar are ope-rated by the forked bar 54 that is pivotally supported in the ears The fork 54 has lingers that press against the collar 52 to push the Vrods 51 against the action of the springs 53 into the recess 28 of the holder 29 and thus cause the article to be ejected therefrom during the upward stroke of the Yram succeeding the downward stroke'that completed all of the operations to be performed on each individual nut. The operation of the forked bar 54 to eject the nut is caused by the cam block 56 having the cam surface 57 and which is mounted on the slidable bar 58. The cam is secured in position to the housing'8 by means of the screws 59 located in slots 6() formed in the bar. The bar 58 is yieldingly held in one position by the spring 61 which is connected between one of the pins 59 and a post 62 located on the bar 58. The index plate 43 is provided with a projection 63 that engages an insert 64 located on the bar 58 and so positioned that upon the completion of the operations on the object it will cause the bar 58 to be moved against the tension of the spring 61 and cause the cam block 56 to operate upon the roller 65 located on the lower end of the forked bar or lever 54. This will cause the bars 51 to be moved forward in the holder 25 and eject the object from within the holder. A succeeding nut or object may then be placed in the holder and the operations will proceed as before. If desired the press maybe tripped so as to cause momentarily cessation of the operations of the press.

In starting, the ram may be caused to be operated through the manipulation of any of the well known controlling tripping mechanisms. For purposes of illustration I have indicated merely a bar 66 that extends upwards toward the crank shaftof the ram which may be connected directly or indirectly to the key that connects the crank shaft with the fly wheel of the press and which is operated by longitudinal morements of the bar 66. The bar 66 is connected to a lever 67 that is pivoted to the housing 8 by means of the pivot pin 68. A cani 69 operates upon the end 70 ofthe bar to cause the bar to tilt and to draw the lever 66 downward. The cam 69 may be connected to a handle or arm 71 to raise the end 7 O of the bar 67.' rl"he handle 71 and the cam 69 are supported on the rod 7 2 which is located in ears 73 connected to the housing 8 or forming a part of the housing 8. Then the rod 66 is pulled down by the operation of the lever 67 it draws a catch `74 beneath the end the bar 58 are provided with inclined cam surfaces that coact to cause the bar 58 to be pushed forward a short distance and the cam 74 passes beneath the lower edge of the bar 58 and is caught and held thereby because of the spring 61 operating to permit the movementof the bar 58 and also operating to draw the bar 5S so as to engage the catch. 7 4. This operates to'hold the lever 67 down and consequently to hold the rod` 66 down, which maintains the key of the press in position to cause the sequential operations of the ram 1 and thus 'to cause the punch 2 to perform the required number of operations upon the article. During these operations the spindle 13 is stepped around by the required number of short angular movements until the bar 58 is operated by the project-ion 63 which releases the lever 67 and raises the rod 66 to stop the operations of the press. The movements of ejectment and of the parts that control the operations of the press may .be performed during the time that the pawl 31 moves from its lowermost position to near the subsequent tooth of the ratchet that it is about to engage. For this reason the pawl is caused to move to a point well below the succeeding tooth of the ratchet 32.

The spindle 13 is secured in position in the housing 8 and rotation thereof is frictionally resisted by means of the spring-pressed shoes 77 that are located in a channel 78 formed in the spindle 13. Pins 7S) extend through the housing 8 and are pressed against the shoes.

' of the bar 58. The catch 74 and the end of 77 by the springs 8O that are held in position by means of the threaded studs Sl, feet 82 and the thumb nuts 83 which are screwed onto the studs S1. The pressure of the shoes 77 may be regulated by the position of the thumb nuts 83 on the studs Si. This will prevent any movemento the spindle 13 during the drawing ofthe pawl 31 over the ratchet 32 while the spindle 13 is unlocked by the locl; l2. and thus prevent the spindle 13 from being dragged rearwardly by the pawl. The spindle is retained in position by the pins 79 that extend through the housing` and into the shoe which located in the channel TS formed in thc spindle 13. rlhe spindle may thus be easily removed from the housing S by merely withdrawing the pin 79.

Different sized nuts or diierent sized objects, or objects of different shapes, may be operated upon by changing` the holder and, it necessary, changing both the holder and the die. rEhe holder may be easily removed by unscrewing the screws 26 and inserting' the desired size or shape holder. Also the die 'T may be easily removed by unscrewing the screw l0. In this way different sized articles may be operated upon in the machine.

l claim:

l. In a slotting machine for slotting hollow objects, a punch, a floating' die coacting with the punch and located within the object, and means located within the. dic for ejectingl the parts sheared from the obj-cct trom within the die.

ln a. slotting` machine :tor slotting hollow objects, a spindle havingmeans for holding the object to be operated upon, a die extendingh through the spindle and into the objects held by the spindle and movable with respect to the spindle, a. punch operatinfr in a direction transverse to the axis ot tno spindle and coacting with the die to shear the objects, means tor causing step by 4.111 a. slotting` machine for slotting hollow objects, means tor supporting the bed, a punch, a stein. rigidly connected to the bed at one end ot the stein, a die located at the other end ot the stem for receiving` the objects and coactingwith the punch to shear the wall ot the hollow objects and a reciprocating means located in the stem and die tor ejecting the parts removed :trom the hollow objects by the punch.

5. ln a slotting machine for slotting hollow objects, al punch, a loating die coacting with the punch and located within the object and a reciprocating means located within the die tor ejecting the parts sheared from the object.

6. ln a slotting machine for slotting hollow objects, a` punch, a floating die coacting.r with the punch and located within the object and a rod located in the stem and the die tor removing` the parts sheared from the hollow objects from within the die.

'l'. ln a slotting machine for slotting the edges of the hollow objects, a punch having inclined curved cutting edges for shearing progressively from the edge oit the hollow objects inward, a die coacting with the punch and located within the hollow objects and a reciprocating member located within the die for ejectinp the portions sheared vtrom the hollow objects from within the die.

ln testimony whereof, l have hereunto signed my name to this specitication. v

FERDINAND (l. H. MLLER. 

